Well since you ask.. imho simplify the gran bill go Pale malt and perhaps a 1/4 of the suggested cornflakes ( but only if u jel em first - soak/heat over 85c) and then add in some oat husks/rice hulls to help with the drainage

Then double the long boil hops, and forget the fruit peel you found in your dressing gown pocket from Boxing day

yeast wise i would suggest US-05 to finish cleanly and quickly so you can drink while the late hop additions remain fresh,..

Aim for 3.7-4% abv and you should have a quaffable crisp light coloured summer ale that wont knock you out when you have a 2nd to taste after quenching a thirst with the first.

But you know i like my beers simple Bri.. However you go with it have a grand day at the brewface and take a few snaps as you go as you know we lurve the pics..

Senior Member

hallow lads,
hi Fil I see ya on the peel thing...but not tried cornflakes.
so I should see what happens.
I must admit ive been putting hulls in a brew, n it was brilliant. was p'd off with blocking.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 3.7-4%!!! I know I don't drink much but when I do I want the "drink for effect!"
not saying a 15% a pint or bottle....just 5.-7%
I never went for a session beer or lager or a small % alcohol.....I never did n ill never do it....just old habit.
if I brew for the lads I don't mind the % ABV....just like the two brews I got lined up for the lads up Scotland...a Bock and a altbeir.
should keep them happy.
mind as I get older and not being a legend we drink! a summer ale might fettle me....n I might be able to sup all day.......in the heat of summer..hmmmmmm say no more about the weather.

Senior Member

14/04/18
Altbeir 20l
order for today me thinks
nearly finished do-in take my time we this.
good old recirculation
the mash went great..the boil good.
mind I wanted to chill..but decided not...into the cubes n then tidy n clean.
bang on the money for 6.30% ABV lol
it is going to Scottish bikers....drink for effect.

Senior Member

Thx Fil,
I was going to do an massive write up for this...but got knackered lol.
like I said yesterday i was up on calculations...volume, SG readings and turned out with nearly 23l instead of 20 with the same % ABV.
cant be bad.
pitched the yeast a bit ago.
feel funny not having my 'Comfort blanket' the ferm fridge lol.
old school cooling n heating...
lataz pal
bri

Senior Member

20/04/18
First reading....1.010.
the taste is smooth, no after bitterness at all.
a hint of banana tbh...but the high ABV shines through lol. 6.4%
no off smells or baddys.....
nice colour
hit the 1.010 reading after 6 days...
thx all
Bri

Senior Member

10/05/18
hallow everbody.
i'm bit crap at keeping up we my brewdays, let alone documenting them.
so yesterday I brewed a 10l batch o fursty fettet.
go big shakes on the brewday....but the brew was stuggling ta get up to temp...
using the small pipe work.
it managed at 99c.....never mind it worked.
today....
a 24l maple/cream ale type of thing..
smell is emazing...
I'm using a stepped mash..so I see how it turns out.
like all my 'seat of the pants' brews ill not tell you the recipe until ive tinkered..lol
might re use the spent grains.....not sure atm...mind I ve got time..our lass is away.
this brew is tinkering we grains ive used b4..n some I haven't.
caramalt for instance.
with a 5.8kg bill, the mash was prefect tbh...slow how I like it..plenty of husks ta help drainage.
pH was crap....normally hit the mark..ohh well not the end of the day!
looking a 5.1% brew...maybe less coz this brew is mine to sup...mind 24l is going ta last me ages...
as always a few pics work well in a thread lol
pre setting up.
DPD delivery on going...strike water n sparge.

Nice one Bri, im still reeling from the idea of a 6kg grainbill for a 11l brew

Because your brewing strong beers, if your boiling with the g/f sat on the floor?? you may want to get 2x shorth lengths of 2x4" or 2x3" to sit the machine on as this will give you the ability to slip a hand in and under to hit the reset button IF you ever trip the over-temperature switch/protection..

Hope you never need to use it but if you do it sure beats the prospect of lifting a full hot kettle or hugging it and sliding it to the edge of the worktop like i did (OUCH-hot hot hot!!!!) imho thats not a great design feature placing the element (thermal switch) reset dead centre in the base :)

Senior Member

Nice one Bri, im still reeling from the idea of a 6kg grainbill for a 11l brew

Because your brewing strong beers, if your boiling with the g/f sat on the floor?? you may want to get 2x shorth lengths of 2x4" or 2x3" to sit the machine on as this will give you the ability to slip a hand in and under to hit the reset button IF you ever trip the over-temperature switch/protection..

Hope you never need to use it but if you do it sure beats the prospect of lifting a full hot kettle or hugging it and sliding it to the edge of the worktop like i did (OUCH-hot hot hot!!!!) imho thats not a great design feature placing the element (thermal switch) reset dead centre in the base :)

Click to expand...

morning all,
after 9.5hrs the last thing I thought boot was the thermal switch tbh!!!ha! ha! out of mind n all that..if you know what I mean lol
the cream ale went as smooth as...plenty of drainage and hit OG 1.050.
I'm still on the fence with stepped mash schedule mind..
now this small batch!!! it really tested what brian cell I have left!!..
getting a low abv batch after the hrs spent tbh! FOR ME..not worth the effort and time..got eventually a low 3.9%...12l in the fv.
trial n error and I think at least ive tried it tbh.
so got 2 x small batches in the tall fringe, and a large (24l) batch in the chest freezer chamber..all bubblin away nicly.
A quick sample of the 1# fursty last nite..one hand pouring is a PITA..
all in all....still fired up, tried two yeast ive never used..
Empire ale yeast n Burton Union....looked at the burton...BEST BEFORE: 01/2017!!!!! but it going great...rung the bloke at the homebrew shop...and all I can say without swearin it got sorted..
hearing after so sorry a few times, "Ohh the Burton might be discontinued!!" bad skills tbh...
thx for viewing
Bri

dont worry about dates on dried yeast packs with intact seals. the only reason yeast carries a best before date is due to its classification as a food product and all food products for human consumption Must have a BBD....